Indoor Things to Do with Kids in Glasgow: Soft Play and More

Glasgow is a good city for a wet-weather or winter day with children. Several of its biggest museums are free to wander round, and there is a wide spread of indoor venues for burning off energy, from soft play and climbing walls to ice and roller rinks. Cinemas and bowling alleys are easy fallbacks when the forecast turns. Below, we have grouped the options by type so you can pick something to suit the ages and energy levels in your group.

Soft play and inflatables

For younger children, a soft play session is the simplest way to use up a morning.

• Inflata Nation Glasgow is a large inflatable park in Kinning Park with bouncy obstacles, giant slides and balancing challenges. It has onsite parking and dining, and is rated 4.3 from 544 Google reviews.
• Fun Street is a soft play centre at Silverburn Shopping Centre with dedicated baby facilities and wheelchair-friendly zones. It is rated 4.0 from 569 Google reviews.
• Jurassic Jungle is a dinosaur-themed play centre for children up to 12, with climbing frames and an onsite restaurant. It is rated 4.0 from 329 Google reviews.

Active and sporty

If your children would rather climb, skate or compete, these venues are a better fit.

• The Climbing Academy Boulder Club Glasgow is a family-friendly bouldering centre with colourful walls, onsite dining and parking. It is rated 4.8 from 774 Google reviews.
• Braehead Ice Arena on Kings Inch Road runs skating sessions and has a restaurant and snack bar, or you can bring your own picnic lunch. It is rated 4.5 from 1,414 Google reviews.
• RollerStop Roller Rink on Middlesex Street offers sessions for every skill level, plus coaching and disco nights. It is rated 4.7 from 674 Google reviews.
• Jungle Rumble Glasgow is an 18-hole tropical-themed adventure golf course with tricky obstacles and onsite refreshments. It is rated 4.3 from 553 Google reviews.
• Paradise Island Adventure Golf Glasgow has two themed mini-golf courses at Braehead, with parking and refreshments. It is rated 4.2 from 360 Google reviews.
• Lasertag Games venue Glasgow is a laser tag venue in Cumbernauld, rated 4.4 from 287 Google reviews.

Creative sessions

A calmer option, and a good one for a rainy afternoon.

• Splatter Art Studio is a hands-on art space where families can paint, splash and make a mess together. It is wheelchair accessible and rated 5.0 from 475 Google reviews.
• The Craft Pottery lets everyone design and paint their own ceramics, with refreshments on hand. It is rated 4.8 from 321 Google reviews.

Museums and galleries

Glasgow's museums are among the easiest ways to fill a wet day with children.

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum covers everything from fine art to natural history. There is an onsite restaurant, or you can bring a picnic. It is rated 4.7 from 25,645 Google reviews.
• Glasgow Riverside Museum is on the waterfront and has 150 hands-on exhibits on ships, transport and city history. It is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, and rated 4.7 from 21,089 Google reviews.
• Glasgow Science Centre has hundreds of hands-on exhibits, IMAX films and live science shows. It is rated 4.6 from 8,459 Google reviews.
• The Peoples Palace on Glasgow Green is a social history museum with historic images and memorabilia. It is rated 4.4 from 3,645 Google reviews.
• Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park has displays and memorabilia, and an onsite restaurant. It is rated 4.7 from 531 Google reviews. Accessibility options are limited, so check ahead if you need step-free access.
• Scotland Street School Museum is a former school building on the south side with preserved teaching spaces from different eras. It is rated 4.5 from 435 Google reviews.

Bowling, arcades and cinemas

The reliable rainy-day classics, many of them under one roof with food nearby.

• Hollywood Bowl Glasgow Springfield Quay sits beside the Clyde and has an amusement arcade and onsite dining. It also has accessible toilets and baby changing, and is rated 4.3 from 3,415 Google reviews.
• R-CADE combines classic arcade cabinets with Asian street food. It is rated 4.8 from 637 Google reviews.
• ODEON Glasgow Quay Luxe on Paisley Road has 12 screens and wheelchair access. It is rated 4.5 from 5,206 Google reviews.
• Showcase Cinema de Lux Glasgow in Baillieston shows blockbusters and family-friendly screenings, and has onsite parking. It is rated 4.4 from 3,170 Google reviews.
• Cineworld Glasgow - Silverburn is a 14-screen multiplex with Cinebabies and Junior showings. It is rated 4.4 from 2,229 Google reviews.
• Cineworld Glasgow - IMAX at GSC at Pacific Quay has Scotland's largest cinema screen, with parking and wheelchair access. It is rated 4.5 from 988 Google reviews.

Tips for an indoor day out

• Book weekend and school-holiday slots ahead, as popular venues can fill up.
• Check the venue's own page for current times before you set off.
• Soft play centres often ask for socks, so pack a spare pair for everyone.
• Pair one active venue with one calmer one, such as a climbing session followed by a museum, to keep the day balanced.
• Bring a dry change of clothes and a bag for wet coats and shoes.